J&K governor minces no words

SRINAGAR: By raising some fundamental issues about politician-criminal nexus, Jammu and Kashmir governor  Lt Gen (retd) SK Sinha has raised many eyebrows.

"Even today we have some individual leaders in politics who uphold high moral values but they are the exceptions. Politics of sufferings and sacrifice of yesteryears has now become a profession of profit not only for oneself but also for generations of one's family",  he said while delivering a lecture on morality and politics at the University of Jammu on Friday.

"There is a difference between a statesman and a politician. The former has a wide and long-term vision and thinks of the future while the latter has a limited and myopic vision who thinks only of the next election," he added.

Sinha said elections have become the "fountainhead of not only corruption but also crime, communalism and casteism."

"The Election Commission of India from (the days of) TN Seshan to N Gopalaswamy have established its credibility in trying to ensure purity in elections but it is hamstrung in its efforts due to our not carrying out electoral reforms," he said.

Calling the youth to come forward and join politics, he said the young generation that takes to politics should strive hard to become statesmen rather than politicians.
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